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Feature

Meet the NMC Team

29 January 2018

NMC has released over 270 albums since its inception in 1989, but do you know the people working behind the scenes, making this musical magic happen? The NMC team has evolved over the years, but one thing has remained constant: it’s a small team. Today it consists of 4 full-time and one part-time members of staff, working tirelessly to ensure that new music enthusiasts everywhere get their supply of bold and innovative new releases. We are devoted to our organisation and the first advocates for broadening new music’s horizons. Here is a little bit more about us.

Anne Rushton, Executive Director

How did you come to NMC? I’d known about NMC from the early nineties, owning some recordings and crossing paths with NMC and getting to know Colin as I was then running the Collins Classics label. I joined the team back in 2003 – though the extent of what we now do does seem unrecognisable compared to those days!

What do you like best about your job? Working with a great team and developing exciting new projects – and hearing and learning new things every day!

In another life, what job would you be doing? Human Rights Lawyer

If you could spend time with any composer, who would it be and what would you do? Stravinsky and go to the ballet!

What couldn’t you live without? My sense of touch – I’d miss hugging those I love, playing my violin and digging in the allotment.

If you had to choose an alarm clock ringtone, would it be Gerald Barry’s smashing plates in The Importance of Being Earnest or John Tomlison’s rendition of the Green Knight in Birtwistle’s Gawain? Plates!

What is your favourite biscuit? My daughter’s homemade cookies

How do you take your tea? Often

Clotted cream on jam or jam on clotted cream? Is this even a question – cream on jam, of course!

Are you a cat or a dog person? Both – plus rabbit and fish!

Eleanor (Ellie) Wilson - General Manager

How did you come to NMC? My first introduction to NMC was at university. I had to borrow a copy of Jonty Harrison’s Klang from the library to study for my composition class. I came to NMC after working at Hyperion Records for nine years.

What do you like best about your job? Variety. I’m a jack-of-all-trades – you kind of have to be when you work for a small organisation on a budget!

In another life, what job would you be doing? An environmental scientist, or more likely a garden designer.

If you could spend time with any composer, who would it be and what would you do? Folk song collecting with Ralph Vaughan Williams.

What couldn’t you live without? Mushrooms. Seriously, being a vegetarian they are in nearly everything I eat!

If you had to choose an alarm clock ringtone, would it be Gerald Barry’s smashing plates in The Importance of Being Earnest or John Tomlison’s rendition of the Green Knight in Birtwistle’s Gawain? Gerald Barry’s plates! Maybe we could create an NMC branded alarm clock in the shape of a plate that you throw across the room to turn off.

What is your favourite biscuit? Cantucci, or the humble Mcvities digestive dipped in coffee!

How do you take your tea? Builders tea – tiny bit of milk, no sugar.

Clotted cream on jam or jam on clotted cream? Clotted cream on jam

Are you a cat or a dog person? 100% dogs. Cats are evil.

Alex Wright - Development and Partnerships Manager

How did you come to NMC? I joined NMC in 2016 from Northern Ballet in Leeds. Prior to that, I was at Birmingham Contemporary Music Group for 4 years and before that, I studied for a music degree at the University of Sheffield.

What do you like best about your job? I enjoy the variety of my role, split between fundraising and managing education projects. Apart from all the wonderful music we get to hear, meeting and talking to so many different people is my favourite part of the job – whether that’s donors, listeners, composers, teachers or musicians.

In another life, what job would you be doing? Working for a record label is a dream job, but if I had to choose something else to do for a living then I’d love to be a composer (writing/performing noisy electronic music). Away from music, if I had more of a creative eye then I think being an architect would be fascinating.

If you could spend a day with a composer, who would it be and what would you do? I’d spend a day with Olivier Messiaen bird-watching and sketching bird-song.

What couldn’t you live without? My glasses – I’m nearly blind without them.

If you had to choose an alarm clock ringtone, would it be Gerald Barry’s smashing plates in The Importance of Being Earnest or John Tomlinson’s rendition of the Green Knight in Birtwistle’s Gawain? The 40 smashing plates from Earnest. I’d need all 40 to get me out of bed most mornings.

What is your favourite biscuit? Chocolate covered hob nob.

How do you take your tea? Usually tea first then milk.

Clotted cream on jam or jam on clotted cream? Clotted cream on jam.

Are you a cat or a dog person? I have an app called ‘Cat-swipe’ on my phone that provides a never-ending stream of cat pictures, read into that what you will…

Rachel Wilmot - Label Assistant

How did you come to NMC? I studied Communications and Popular Music at university and really enjoyed my music industry modules so I knew I wanted to work in that business. I started looking for opportunities in the music industry and came across a position at NMC. It seemed like the perfect label for me as NMC is a charity and I had a background in the third sector so I could combine my knowledge of that with my interest in music.

What do you like best about your job? Co-ordinating recording sessions, from researching venues and accommodation for artists to making sure everyone is happy and things are running smoothly on the day.

In another life, what job would you be doing? I was originally going to university to study journalism but changed my mind on results day and asked to switch to a music course. So, I would probably be a journalist/writer.

If you could spend a day with any composer, who would it be and what would you do? Go for lunch with Imogen Holst and listen to all her amazing stories - reading Colin’s memories of her on our blog she seemed like such an interesting woman.

What couldn’t you live without? Headphones and lip balm.

If you had to choose an alarm clock ringtone, would it be Gerald Barry’s smashing plates in The Importance of Being Earnest or John Tomlison’s rendition of the Green Knight in Birtwistle’s Gawain? Gerald Barry smashing plates because I wouldn’t be able to sleep through it!

What is your favourite biscuit? Chocolate hobnob

How do you take your tea? Just a little bit of milk

Clotted cream on jam or jam on clotted cream? Jam on clotted cream

Are you a cat or a dog person? Both!

Lucile Gasser - Development Assistant

How did you come to NMC? My last year of Foreign Languages Applied to International Business Master’s degree involved doing a 6-month internship. I wanted to do it in the music industry and I came across NMC’s website, which looked like a very interesting organisation, being a charity as well as a record label. I met with Anne and a few months later I started my internship and (almost) never left – I did run off for about a year to travel but was lucky to be able to come back to NMC when I returned.

What do you like best about your job? Being in touch with our supporters and making sure they’re enjoying their association with us. It sometimes feels like they don’t realise the impact their donation has on NMC but we literally couldn’t do it without them. They’re all very passionate about music and it’s always great to hear about the history they have with NMC.

In another life, what job would you be doing? Probably something manual. My grandad was a carpenter and I always liked being around him when he worked, so maybe that.

If you could spend a day with any composer, who would it be and what would you do? Musical saw shopping with Quinta.

What couldn’t you live without? My books, they’re my home away from home and I go back to my favourites when I need comfort.

If you had to choose an alarm clock ringtone, would it be Gerald Barry’s smashing plates in The Importance of Being Earnest or John Tomlison’s rendition of the Green Knight in Birtwistle’s Gawain? Definitely plates, The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my favourite albums in the NMC catalogue.

What is your favourite biscuit? Caramel digestives

How do you take your tea? With gradually increasing amount of milk throughout the day – I can’t take too much caffeine.

Clotted cream on jam or jam on clotted cream? I would tend to do it French style (we put butter then jam on bread), so I’d say jam on clotted cream.

Are you a cat or a dog person? Dog, I don’t like how you never know what cats are thinking.

It is passionate new music supporters like you that make our work so worthwhile. It is thanks to all of you that we can continue our work and that we do it with passion and dedication. You support NMC’s work by purchasing albums directly from our online store, and by being a part of our loyal Friends. Without the support of individual donors, NMC would not be able to release as much new music as we currently do. So, thank you very much to all our donors and customers for your support!

If you’d like to take your support of NMC further by becoming a Friend or making a donation towards our activities, please visit our Support Us page or contact us and we’ll be happy to be in touch!